Editor's note: Updated to correct the dates of first games and to correct a name spelling.

Football teams in central Wisconsin and across the state took the initial steps Tuesday in a season-long campaign that players hope ends in late November at Camp Randall Stadium.

Teams hit the fields for three-hour sessions on the first day that they were allowed to conduct an official practice by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Players were just in helmets with no pads as the teams cannot conduct any contact drills until next week.

The regular season opens with teams playing games either Aug. 21 or Aug. 22. Until then, here is a glimpse at what two intercity rivals look like as practice starts and what they will work on over the next few weeks.

We will profile more teams leading up to the season opener.

WAUSAU WEST

• Who's back: Senior Jake Whalen was a first-team All-Valley Football Association first team selection at both fullback and linebacker last season. He is one of the key returning pieces for a West defense that allowed an average of nine points per game last season. Kyle Nickel and Logan Dennison earned second-team all-conference honors at tight end and defensive end, respectively, last season as juniors.

• What's new: The expectations for this season. West improved by four wins last season and hosted the first home playoff game in the program's history. The Warriors will not be considered a surprise team in the VFA North this year and look to build on the success of 2013.

• What needs work: The Warriors had the top pass defense in the Valley Football Association North Division last year, but have a relatively green group this season with the graduation of defensive backs Chris Clementi, Dalton Decker, Austin Bates and Kallen Bentz. Whalen also is the only returnee among the three starting linebackers from last year. West does return four starters on the defensive line, however.

• What the coach said: "The seniors have their team goals, and they want to improve on last year. There's no reason why we can't do that," West coach Kevin Grundy said. "As as with anything, as long as you can stay healthy, you can get a lot of good things done."

WAUSAU EAST

• Who's back: Lumberjacks senior Tim Nass earned second team All-Valley Football Association North Division honors at receiver. Sam Romanski and Brennan Becker earned honorable mention consideration at defensive end and fullback. respectively, last year as juniors. Becker also had the fourth-most rushing attempts in the North Division with 105.

• What's new: Tom Tourtillott takes over the Lumberjacks program this year, returning to the area after a two-year absence. Tourtillot stepped down at Merrill after the 2011 season to take an assistant job as Rice Lake. He takes over at East for Scott Mallien, who stepped down after one season.

• What needs work: A total of 55 players — sophomores through seniors — turned out for the opening of camp, and Tourtillott said the program overall is going through a rebuilding mode. He added that there is a camp battle at every position, with nothing guaranteed yet.

• What the coach said: "It's difficult for these kids who are juniors and seniors, who have had three different head coaches in three different years," Tourtillott said. "Playing football is learning a language, and we have to learn our new Lumberjack language. We will teach fundamentals and stress fundamentals. We have to become fundamentally sound, and I believe that we will."